Netflix updates site: info is hidden, but instant watching is easy

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If you stop by Netflix.com this morning and login to your account, you’ll be greeted by a new design. The old (somewhat clunky) layout has been replaced by one with larger title art, click-free side-scrolling, and “play instantly” buttons all over the place. Basically Netflix.com now looks a lot more like it does on an Xbox 360, PS3, Roku, or any of the other Netflix-playing devices out there.

As you can see above, the new design was focused on the main body of the page–the browsing area–while the header was unchanged. The Suggestions for You, Your Queue, and Browser DVDs areas are also the same as they were yesterday.

The new home page–the Watch Instantly page–is emblematic of the recent changes we’ve seen to Netflix. The service has gotten more polished, more browsable, and, more than anything else, focused on instant streaming. On that page there is no option to view more from the same category or to instantly rate a video–you need to mouse-over the art, wait for a pop-up, and then you can see all the information about it. This pop-up is also where you can rate the movie or add it to your instant queue.

The instant watch pages have more to selections than ever before. My own Watch Instantly page has 18 rows (Critically-acclaimed Movies, More like Highlander, etc.) most of which had 6 videos in them, along with scrolling to the right. This layout is not only great for browsing, but it’s clearly optimized for touch interfaces, with one-press access to watching every video on that page.

In addition to affecting the instant-watching page, all the sub-pages in that section were updated, including all the genres, New Arrivals, and Starz Play.

In their blog Netflix noted that the changes were made in order to make instant viewing easier for users. Nothing was said about the similarity to the layouts used on set-top devices or the touch-friendliness, but after reading it we know that more changes are on the way.

Speak Your Mind

HAHA – Sal, this article is almost as bad as the new Netflix UI. You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about – and you clearly didn’t do your homework.

You of all people should stand up for fellow geeks and help us out when something this foul comes about. The new Netflix UI is the possibly the worst design change I have ever seen. The fact that they have remained “deaf” to the 5000 comments (there would be more if allowed) and 12,000+ tweets makes this an even worse atrocity.

Sal…I thought more highly of you…what happened?

Sdf

The new UI is an absolute mess for users with a KB and mouse/trackpad. I had to get a temp hack for chrome (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ngacmlmclfopgbnmefcffgbcjiafbfpo) just to get it back to where finding something to watch was actually possible. Hey Netflix, total FAIL… how about fixing the iPad app first instead of forcing desktop and laptop users to browse like a set-top-box. Sal, did you actually try this new UI, or are you new!!!

Edgil215

The new layout is absolutely terrible. Why would they even consider downgrading to a crappy layout that people who stream on consoles are stuck with. There’s a reason why I use a computer! What the heck Netflix FAIL!

Swellbox

Makes me nauseous to browse. I have cover the screen with my hand and wait five seconds, stop the scrolling, look up to read, repeat. Terrible UI.
There are no titles above the images! I don’t want to seek out the title of every damn cover that’s in a different font/color/size while it’s sickeningly scrolling across the screen.There are no ratings below the images! I don’t want to watch a one-star movie, and making me slowly open the info to find out it’s a flop just makes me feel irritated, not adventurous.This does open the door to competition for Netflix, however. . . hmm. . .maybe a solution is on the horizon!When will sites learn? If you’re design ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

LulzFlix

I accidentally 5000 comments. Is that messed up?

CJ

the new interface is horrible – but there are a few workarounds that aren’t optimal but will allow you to sort:

to get to the sorting grid on any page add: vt=tl& to url

for example http://movies.netflix.com/WiRecentAdditionsGallery?d=%252FnewReleases%252Fnon_tv%252Farrival_date

Thank you for this link! I have been scouring the Internet to find a way to revert! I just hope they don’t shut this link down.

Groberts

What a f***ing moron.

Greg Ricks

Netflix people are idiots. Their blog about this filled up with 5000 mostly negative posts about this stupid website update. They should have flipped a switch and reverted back to the version that had more options. I voted with my pocketbook. I cancelled my Netflix.

Sal Cangeloso

excellent comment driftwood. thanks for taking the time.

Tyler M.

If you use Chrome as your browser you might want to check out this extension

If any netflix big wig is watching this blog and would like to stay in buisness Please please please go back to the old streaming. I HATE it!!!! Almost everyone HATES it. I loved my netflix before this now I barely use it because it is such a pain! The only reason I still have my account is wait a little while longer to see if it changes back to normal.

Netflix Lover & Hater

Everyone hates the new Netflix interface. Hopefully, if all the wheels squeak loud enough, they’ll do something. For now, I have created my own solution at

The scrolling is awful, they should let people choose which interface they wish to use

Chor

How much did they pay you to write this?

Canti42

holy gawd thank you for this link! I have seriously been on the edge of just dumping the service due to how unmanageable the site is now. If the scrolling wasn’t bad enough (fuck me if I dare to pause for a description on that last movie in the current row) now all of the movies I have seen are integrated into the mix as well >< So not only am I fighting so see what the fuck they have…but most of the time Im just fighting so see what I have already seen….grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr